Picture a Smile on Your Face – The Mystic Outdoor Art Festival is Coming

Year after year art lovers flock to downtown Mystic for a day in on the coast surrounded by what they love - fresh, original artwork! 

The 56th annual Mystic Outdoor Art Festival begins Saturday at 10 a.m. and runs through 5 p.m. Sunday. 

The streets of historic downtown Mystic will transform into gallery space for more than 250 artists who will show more than 100,000 works of art, spread out over two miles along the Mystic River. 

According to the festival’s website, the festival has doubled in size in its 56 years and it isn’t just for art collectors; there are just as many activities and events for kids. The Children’s Art Park is where children are invited make some art of their own during the event. Visit the Mystic River Park on the Stonington side of the river for a variety of activities including face painting, fish prints, bubbles, hula hoops, bean bag toss, funny photo boards and nautical knot tying as well as activities led by area museums and cultural centers. 

On Saturday, there will be activities from MAC, Little Learners, Riverfront Children's Center, Noank Baptist Church and Alliance For Living. On Sunday, join the Lyman Allyn and Mystic Aquarium.

During your visit, stop in and see the Mystic Art Center’s galleries and check out the centennial year exhibition, Mystic As Muse. On Saturday from 10am – 3pm, Mystic Arts Center hosts participatory children’s chalk art, available to all and free of charge.

New this year, Michaels Arts and Crafts is hitting the road! At this year’s Art Festival, children and adults alike can hop aboard a mobile crafting center, housed inside an 18-wheeler, and let their creativity flow! The Michaels mobile craft space will be located in the Chelsea Groton Bank parking lot, and will provide endless crafting opportunities throughout the weekend. 

Don’t forget that all artists were once young artists. Check out the Young Artist Exhibition with over 100 pieces of sea life artwork by local students, with high aspirations. These pieces will be displayed along West Main Street on both Saturday and Sunday.